North Cyprus Kyrenia

[dabsolute470]

hiya
we are off the Kyrenia in cyprus next week and wonderd if anyone from the forum will be there or any recommendations.

thanks

 

[Jeva]

Good place. Go see the castle and take a trip up to Nicosia by bus (about 30mins). Check out 'Peanuts' restaurant around the back of the marina - office will direct you.

 

[dabsolute470]

thanks for the info, we have a car for the week so exploring will be good

 

[NickRobinson]

Hi-
We were there (without boat) in August, stayed at Lapta. 42/44deg C, phew...

you won't be able to take a TRNC hire car south, but you can walk across into Nicosia. Go up the tower (dept store) to view the city. Back in the north, visit the mosque which respectfully reused the cathedral (you'll be welcomed, photography fine- even during the muezzin).

In the north, the buffer zone at Famagusta is eerie but interesting, including a shelled block with the lift cars exposed. The town is good with walls but we failed to get into the port (too hot to search!) Cakes are works of art but taste like school dinners...

In Girne (Kyrenia), try and find a tiny wood carving shop 5 mins from the harbour wall, astonishing puzzle boxes shoes, backgammon boards... personalised free, if requested, while you wait.

Salamis (giant coastal Roman site) Bel Pais (mountain monastery used by WW2 injured forces, graffiti remains) Buffo Vento (we didn't get to this castle but highly recommend the wooden chalet style restaurant below it- mezze and view to die for.

Karpaz Gate Marina looks like a serious development from the road, but some problems, search other threads.

Karpaz pan handle- rough roads at the end, wild donkeys, end of the world feel-

Minibuses will toot/slow down if you walk main roads, good value. (don't know about low season)

Don't speed if you want to go back! They match car hire with pport numbers and get you next time.

enjoy it. It's slightly wild west outside the big towns but very friendly and good value.

We hoped to rent a boat, even a dinghy off a beach, but did not find one.

Be very very (very!) careful about buying property, you may never get good title.

Nick

 

[dabsolute470]

wow thanks very much Nick
it should be a nice temp when we are there and we hope to do sopme diving.
sounds very good and interesting, we will try find that shop as i would love a chess table top for the boat if they ship.
great info, do you know about any casinos there, seems to be a few..

steve

 

[NickRobinson]

Glad to share-

We stayed with people who had bought an apartment out there, they passed on their local knowledge to us.

Casinos? Never tried one there or any where else but they do exist there. One passing comment by someone was that 'Casino' may be code for strip/ lap dancing establishment.....

(Never tried that either... what a sheltered life.....)

'Dikman' (don't laugh....) drinkable Turkish budget red wine

Try turkish coffee once (once is enough....)

Nick

 

[dabsolute470]

hahaha... thanks for the info Nick

we will report back next week on the casinos...lol
could be interesting.....lo

 

[VicMallows]

Any specific comments regarding car hire in TRNC for a day or two? We would drive to Nicosia and walk over from the South.

Vic

 

[rivonia]

Any specific comments regarding car hire in TRNC for a day or two? We would drive to Nicosia and walk over from the South.

Vic

Hi Vic, we are on our yacht in Karpaz. We hired a car and did what you want to do.

Only a few will allow you to go over the border with the car, it is an extra 100 tl plus a small charge at the border.

Peter

 

[dabsolute470]

we have hired a car for the week, cheap as chips... £70.00 plus £3.00 waiver

 

[VicMallows]

Thanks for the info. I know it's incredibly cheap in the South (just paid £75 for TWO weeks with Europcar). Good to know North is similar.

Vic

 

[cmedsailor]

Try visit the Greek south part. Lots of places to see. Start from Nicosia, drive to Troodos mountains (lots of nice small villages), get down to Pafos and then from Limassol back to Nicosia. You can easily do this in one day or even better two.